Da Brat - Are you a huge admirer of Shawantae Harris, also known as Da Brat? We’ve gathered several fascinating facts about this first female rapper.

Da Brat's Birthday 2024 – April 14, 2024

Da Brat, actual name Shawntae Harris, was born in Chicago, Illinois on April 14, 1974. She was raised in two families, partly by her mother and grandmother and partly by her father and her paternal grandmother. Harris received her break in 1992 when she won a rap competition by Yo MTV Raps. Harris’s image as a female version of Snoop Doggy Dogg was fostered by her producer Jermaine Dupri. Her debut album, “Funkdafied,” was released in 1994 and made top rankings. The same-titled record was certified platinum, making her the first female rapper to sell a million copies.

Fast Facts

Birth date:

April 14, 1974

Age:

49 years, 11 months

Zodiac Sign:

Aries

Background

Shawntae Harris, better known as Da Brat, was born on April 14, 1974, in Chicago, Illinois. She lived with her family— mother and father — and was cared for by both. When she was a youngster, her parents divorced. At the time, wearing long skirts and participating in the chorus at a strict Pentecostal church attended by Harris, known as Shawnie then, was a must. When Harris initially began listening to artists like Monie Love and LL Cool J, she started moving away from gospel music.Known for her fast-paced lyrical style, Harris rose to prominence in the 1990s. Singing about drugs and violence helped keep her relevant in the male-dominated hip-hop scene even though she was a female rapper. In October 1996, “Anuthatantrum,” Harris’s follow-up album, was released. Unlike her earlier venture, when Dupri was the only creative power, she was more involved this time around. Aside from receiving mixed reviews, it failed to get the same sales as her previous work. T-Boz from TLC joined her on the hit ‘Ghetto Love.’ Mariah Carey, Missy Elliott, and Lil’ Kim have all worked with her on remixes of her songs, including ‘Always Be My Baby,’ ‘Heartbreaker,’ and ‘Sock It to Me.’Her outspoken persona won over hip-hop and music lovers equally. Rapper and actress Harris rose to fame in the U.S. after receiving two Grammy nominations during a six-year period. She is the first female solo rapper to have an album certified platinum for her first album — “Funkdafied.” However, she is best known for her work as a guest musician on the albums of other composers. Currently, Harris has been in many films and television series as well as being a member of the So So Def Records roster. The actress/rapper acts as a judge on MTV’s reality competition program “Celebrity Rap Superstar.” There are two Grammy nominations for Harris and three Billboard Awards for the artist. Her career has been colored by controversy due to her unpredictable behavior. She has gotten into several legal fights, and she’s even done time in jail.

Career timeline

1992
The Early Success

Harris gets her big break and wins Yo! MTV Raps contest.

1994
The “Funkdafied” Album Debut

The Album gets to number two on the Hip-Hop Charts and stays there for almost three months.

1998
The Grammy Award Nomination

‘Not Tonight’ remix is selected for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group.

2008
The Billboard Awards

Harris wins Top Hot Rap Artist, Top Hot Rap Single, and Top Hot Female Rap Artist.

Da Brat FAQs

Who is Harris to Jermaine Dupri?

Jermaine Dupri and Harris aren’t related but their friendship and respect for one another is comparable to that of siblings.

Is Harris still working?

After finally being released from prison, she is working hard. From 2011 to the present, she has released solos and worked as an actress on several T.V. shows.

Is Harris Bisexual?

It is not clear because she has denied allegations of her being bisexual.

5 Surprising Facts

  1. She’s had a controversial career

    Harris hit a woman with a bottle, and she served one year of probation plus a fine.

  2. She was incarcerated for three years

    Harris had attacked a woman at a Halloween party in Atlanta’s Studio 72 club.

  3. She’s dated two celebrities

    Harris has dated former basketball player Allen Iverson and rapper Andre 3000.

  4. She’s an actress too

    Harris featured in an episode of “All That,” and was a guest on “The Parent Hood.”

  5. She has had legal troubles

    Harris’s legal woes began in 2001 when she was arrested for violence.

Why We Love Da Brat

  1. She is God fearing

    Harris believes in God. She has referred to herself as a ‘God-fearing woman’ and says there’s nothing she can accomplish without Him.

  2. She feels for humanity

    Harris said it is the nicest feeling for her to help others and contribute to making their aspirations come true. She cares about making the world a better place.

  3. She loves dogs

    Harris has a fascination with dogs. She has three dogs and she personally stated that she is a dog person and she loves to laugh.

Da Brat’s birthday dates

Year Date Day
2023 April 14 Friday
2024 April 14 Sunday
2025 April 14 Monday
2026 April 14 Tuesday
2027 April 14 Wednesday